Despite Norwich City’s 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth, Philippe Clement has advised his players to be calm and believe in themselves.
The Norwich manager appreciated his players’ support during the game, but acknowledged the dissatisfaction inside Carrow Road following another defeat, with fans expressing their sentiments at the final whistle.
“The fans were really positive during the game and kept pushing the team,” Clement stated.
“You cannot ask for more than that.
“Afterwards, we understand their frustration because we’re all frustrated about the result and we felt we could have had more from the game.”
Clement argues that Norwich should not panic, with the season still far from over.
“But it’s my job to stay calm because if everybody starts to panic, we’re not going to get the season we want,” he replied.
“There are still 36 games to play and it’s about taking the right lessons from this game.”
The Belgian was encouraged by several aspects of the performance, but said his team needs to improve in the final third.
“The organisation was good, the attitude was good and the passion was good,” Clement stated.
“Now it’s about making the right decisions in the final third and rebuilding confidence.”
Clement believes that confidence will be critical for Norwich’s youthful team, which he believes is on the verge of turning performances into results.
“Confidence and a clear structure are important so that everybody knows what to do together in every situation,” he stated.
“That’s what happened last season, and the players benefited from the confidence. We are not far away now.
“We lost against Southampton by one goal, we lost against Swansea after playing well and today I think we deserved at least a point.”
He said, “But football is about seizing opportunities. It is about being clinical and harsh.
“These are the areas where we need to develop while maintaining the team’s passion and devotion.
“It’s crucial that the players don’t lose confidence.”
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